Conflicting reports on Mohsen Rezaei appointment spark debate over Iran’s decision-making

Conflicting reports about the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei as the Supreme Leader’s representative to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council have raised questions about confusion in the country’s decision-making process.

The Iranian news agency ISNA initially reported that Major General Mohsen Rezaei had been appointed to the post, but later deleted the story. Other agencies, including Tasnim and Mehr, also removed related news items.

Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr continues to appear as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, including in his management of sensitive issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, adding to the uncertainty.

The composition of the council and the fate of the secretary and Supreme Leader’s representative positions remain unclear.

Meanwhile, Mehr News Agency published a rare video of Iran’s Supreme Leader among a group of people, coinciding with the announcement of a meeting between Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

So far, there is no information indicating that the Supreme Leader has reversed Rezaei’s appointment in response to objections from the Iranian president.

Earlier reports suggested that Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr had resigned as council secretary and that Mohsen Rezaei might replace him. However, the newspaper Sazandegi denied Rezaei’s appointment and confirmed that President Pezeshkian had rejected Zolghadr’s resignation.